Author's Note: Don't ask why Aeris is alive. She just is, okay? ^^' This is set after Sephiroth's defeat. And please be patient, you'll see what the title means soon enough =)

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any related materials. It's © SquareSoft and all those wonderful people.

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Aeris Gainsborough leaned on the windowsill of a window in her room at the Ghost Square Hotel, watching the rides go, and the lights flash and sparkle in the distance.

It had been a busy week so far. Yuffie had suggested that the group have a get together and go sight-seeing. She didn't seem to hear when Cid reminded her that they had already seen mostly everything of interest on the entire planet, but kept insisting until everyone was forced to give in.

So far, the friends had been to Junon (mostly for shopping - much to the sarcastic delight of the male members of their party), Cosmo Canyon, and Costa del Sol. They had made it to the Gold Saucer just today, Thursday, with a few hours to spare until it was 'lights out'.

Cloud had taken her out, while the rest dispersed to go where they pleased. They wandered about willy-nilly, talking of nothing in particular. He had won her a stuffed animal at Wonder Square. She glanced over to her pillow, where the imitation kitten was sitting, watching the world through sky blue glass eyes and smiled slightly. Then she turned back to the open window. After that he had taken her to Round Square, and they had enjoyed a quiet ride together.

However, her biggest thrill of the entire day, the week, even, had come about a half an hour ago. As they reached the top of the stairs and said their 'good night's, he had stolen a swift peck on the cheek, smiled shyly, and left her heart to flutter as he retreated to his room.

Aeris blushed as she thought about it, feeling warm despite the cool breeze that came in through the open window.

"Woo hoo! Haha, stupid! Y'can't get it back now! It's mine!" A voice cut through her thoughts. She heard a swift opening and slamming of the room's door, followed by the frantic noises of someone trying to lock the door. The lock made a soft click as it slid into place.

"Success!" sang Yuffie, waving a peice of support materia in the air as Aeris turned. Her soft eyebrows shot up nearly into her hairline.

"Yuffie! What've you done this time?" she asked, sounding half exasperated.

Someone began pounding on the door. "Damnit! #$%^in' hell! Give it back, you, you.. woman!!" bellowed Cid, unable to think of a worse insult. "Hah! Better stop, before security comes to kick you out!" Yuffie called back. There was a short silence. A muffled curse sounded from just outside the door and one last bang as he kicked it. The ninja giggled gleefully. Aeris gave her a wry look, then settled on the bed.

"That was wrong. You should give it back, you know," Aeris said. Yuffie shook her head, eyes shining as she examined her prize. "No way! If he was stupid enough to let me steal it, I'm keeping it. I stole it, fair and square." A sigh escaped the flower girl's delicate lips.

"Fine, keep it for now. You're giving it back in the morning." Before Yuffie had a chance to reply, Aeris changed the subject. "Where's Tifa? Wasn't she supposed to be staying in here with us?" She indicated the empty third bed with a wave of her hand. Yuffie shrugged, looking up. "I dunno. She wasn't downstairs when I came in." Aeris sighed again, glancing at the clock. It read 11:53 in digital numbers. "We were supposed to meet at eleven thirty, right?"

"Yup."

Aeris started looking worried. "I wonder if something happened to her? Maybe I should go look," she said. Yuffie only shrugged distractedly, turning the materia over in her hand. "If you want to," she replied absently.

"I think I do want to," said Aeris, neatly swiping the precious object from under her friend's nose. "Hey! Give that back! It's mine!" Yuffie protested. "No, it's not yours, it's Cid's." Her reply was stern.

Yuffie made a face. It seemed that she could get away with almost anything, from almost anyone, except for Aeris. Why was that?

Aeris walked over to the door and unlocked it. "I'll be back later. Don't steal anything while I'm gone," she said, stepping outside, only to be greeted by the sharp point of Cid's Venus Gospel. She held it roughly aside, slotting the materia in it's proper place before walking down the hall without another word.

Cid paused when he realized that Aeris, not Yuffie, had come out of the room, and that she had returned his posession to him. He mumbled a thanks and walked to his room.

Aeris walked down the stairs and headed for the door. Once outside, she realized that it was colder than it had seemed from her upstairs window, and began wishing that she had brought a jacket. Regardless, she jumped down the chute to the Station to have a look around.

No Tifa.

Next, Aeris tried Event Square, and again came up with the same results. Next, she tried the Battle Square. Nothing. Now she went to the Chocobo Square. It was logical, since Tifa loved the animals so much. Aeris began to see a figure out of the corner of her eye after a while of searching fruitlessly around the Square. It flitted around stealthily, keeping to shadows or otherwise blending in with the sparse crowds.

Oh, wonderful, she thought, rubbing her arms briskly. I'm being followed..

Still no Tifa. Next on her mental list came Round Square. When she asked the ride operator if she had seen her friend, the lady shook her head. As she left that place, she noticed her persuer again. It was beginning to bother her, and she now wished fervently that she had Cloud with her. She might have felt a little better if she had her staff, but she hadn't planned on using it on a search for Tifa.

Aeris decided to at least check Wonder Square before she went back to the hotel. There were always a lot of people there - at least no one would try anything in a place crowded with people. She walked over to her decided destination. She landed a bit unsteadily after being nearly thrown out of the chute, but managed to maintain her balance.

As she straightened her dress and looked up, Aeris breathed a sigh of relief. Tifa was sitting on the bottom of the steps, staring at the wall while absently fiddling with the folds of one of an old sweat shirt that was much too big for her. She appeared to be deep in thought.

"Tifa!" Aeris called. Tifa looked up, a startled expression flitting across her face.

"Oh! Aeris," she said. Aeris walked over to her. "Hey, why're you out so late? We were supposed to meet back at the hotel over half an hour ago!" Tifa looked surprised, then a little unsure. "..We were? Oh, I'm sorry if I made you worry or anything," she apologised quickly. But her friend merely shook her head. "No, don't worry, it's alright. We should just head back soon." Tifa nodded in agreement.

"Hey, you don't look too good," Aeris said, cocking her head to the side to examine Tifa's face. "Are you okay? Did you have a bad day?" Tifa shrugged her friend's concern off. "I'm fine.. don't worry. How about you? What did you guys do?"

"Er.. not much.. we just wandered around basically. We went to see the play, which was pretty good. Nothing really exciting.." She explained the rest of her day. "Then it was time to go back, though.. so anyways he walked me up the stairs.. and.." Aeris broke off and began to blush. Tifa raised an eyebrow and nudged her once. "What? What happened?" she asked.

Aeris laughed shyly. "Well.. just before we went to our rooms.. he.. well, he.. he kissed me!" she began to blush even more profusely. "Oooooooooo!" Tifa squealed, giggling and nudging her some more. Aeris laughed.

Cait Sith was right. The thoughts drifted across Tifa's mind before she realized it, and she felt a slight sinking feeling in her gut as continued her facade. They were ment to be together.. well, you should've known that, silly. Just be happy for them, she scolded herself.

A grin still hovered over Aeris's pretty features as she announced, "We should be getting back, anyways. The others are probably worried." Tifa nodded. "Oh, yeah. You're probably right."

Only when Aeris heard a slight sound did she remember her persuer. She checked to see if Tifa had her gloves with her, and came up with dissapointing results. "Come on," she said, hurrying down the chute to Ghost Square. Once they were there, Aeris felt more safe. Now it was only a minute or two's walk up to the hotel.

They were walking along and talking quite animatedly when Tifa drew her breath in sharply and looked down at her arm. Soon after she sighed almost lazily and fell back, her lids fluttering shut.

"Tifa?" Aeris asked uncertainly, worry etched into her face. She knelt beside her unconscious friend and checked her arm. A Tranquilizer? she thought, looking around for the assailant. The shadows shifted.

Just then, she felt a sharp pain in her thigh. Her body numbed and she slid to the ground alongside her friend. She watched the contours of a figure advance upon her, just before she was enveloped into the welcoming embrace of a blissful nothingness.

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So how was it? Interested? Good! Chapter two will come as soon as I can write it. Cloud gets the first note from Aeris's captor. Now please review, it's right down there. =)